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Elders Letter
James Russell, Elder
When studying to prove all things, it is apparent that Jeremiah faced the same problems we face in the “Church
Of God, In Truth” today. Jeremiah stood at the temple gate as he was commanded , "The word came to Jeremiah
from the LORD, saying, Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the
word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of
hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye
not in lying words, saying ".... The temple of the LORD, are these" (Jer. 7:1- 4). The people were assuming that
because the temple was in their midst and the majority worshipped there, God would never forsake them
regardless of their evil ways. God, speaking through Jeremiah, continues in verse 8 and 9 to warn the people of
their evil ways. "Behold; ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery,
and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not" (Jer. 7:8-9).
It is folly to expect the Church of God, where God has been reverenced, to act as a guarantee against punishment
when the people in their hearts have turned away from God. God will not withhold judgment merely to perpetuate
an organization!!
God used Jeremiah in his time to warn the people of the syncretism they were practicing! They were playing
religion just as many Churches of God are playing religious games with God's truth today! The people falsely
believe there is safety in numbers. God's says, "But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey My voice, and
I will be your God, and ye shall be My people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it
may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the
imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. For the children of Judah have done evil
in My sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the House called by My name, to pollute it" (Jer.
7:23-24,30). God's Houses called by His name “The Church of God” have and are being polluted with lies. The
ministers of these Churches ask their members to postpone God's annual Sabbath Holy Days!
God's Feast of Tabernacles is to be at the years end, (tekufoth) turn--at the fall equinox "And thou shalt observe
the Feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year's end' (Exo. 34:22).
"And the Feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the Feast of
Ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field" (Exo.23:16).
This year those who practiced syncretism using the Hebrew Calendar Holiday dates, kept their postponed Last
Great Day seven days before the month of November. This is thirty-three days away from the fall turn of the
year when God's appointed time dates are to observed!
The people of Judah were taken into captivity because they had forgotten the true God and had trusted in
falsehood. "This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from Me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten
Me, and trusted in falsehood" (Jer. 13 :25). The Churches of God who keep the Hebrew Jewish Calendar are
trusting in falsehood!! Even the Jews know that the feasts are one month late this year 2016. Why did the
Churches of God not heed the warning that they are keeping the wrong dates for God’s annual Holy Days???
If the Bible, not man is your foundation and way of life, ask yourself, why am I participating in Judaism’s
religious postponed calendar practices! We are advised by God’s word to "Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Tim.2: 15) Each of us needs
to "prove all things" out of God's Word. We cannot afford to take anyone's word when it affects our religious
beliefs and our eternal life.
The Church of God, In Truth prays as did Jeremiah: Obey God's voice and keep God's commanded Holy
Convocations that are written in Leviticus 23.
Church of God, In Truth
P.O. Box 1120 Kimberling City, MO 65686
Tel: 417-338-0033
James Russell, Elder, Tel: 417-338-0033 E-mail: cogit@flash.net
Pete Fleming, Elder, Tel: 830-885-5502 E-mail: pmf06@gvtc.com
Spanish
Martin Martinez, Deacon, Tel: 787-786-5856 E-mail mmartinez@ucsint.com
Phillippines
Romeo Samudio, Rep, Tel: 090-8536-4413 E-mail Romesamudio@yahoo.com